Hello,
we’re Maggie & Pete Morrison, We first started animal
rescue 30 years ago and have been vegans for the same number of
years. Our Shelter operates from our home and has
been placed first for six awards. Pet Plan/Cats Magazine voted
us Best Cat Rescue Shelter in the U.K. five times winner of
Luton in Bloom Floral Display (Business Premises) and the High Sheriff of
Bedfordshire presented us with the Good Citizenship award for
the service we give to senior citizens and the help we give to them
with their companion animals with tasks that they are unable to
do by themselves. We handle a mixture of animals numbering 500-600
per year; and we have a no-kill policy at our shelter ―unless
the quality of life has gone. Apart from the animals that are in
for re-homing, we have on average, at any one time, 40 to 50
residential infirm animals, mainly cats and dogs. These live the
rest of their days at the shelter, as they are unsuitable for
re-homing for various age and health reasons. They live as part
of our family at the Shelter. Apart from minor
squabbles, there have never been any major problems.
We have set
up nightly feeding stations about the town for the colonies of feral cats.
These we have trapped, spayed or neutered, and ear-tipped for identification.
The streets at night can be dangerous when rescuing animals:
we have been attacked by a person with a bread
knife, that thankfully missed; on another occasion, when we
tried to retrieve abandoned animals we were assaulted by drug
pushers, who tried to throw us over a third floor balcony parapet,
in many cases we have had to thank the police for our safety.
On our nightly feeding rounds we are known as 'the animal people'.
We are positive we have made more friends than enemies
―we’re
often approached by people asking for help or advice about their
animals, if possible, we’re always happy to oblige.
We see such unbelievable cruelty. We rescued a bitch who was
left in a tea-chest to die with her new born pups, her legs bound with wire; cats
faces eaten away with cancer; animals injured
in road traffic accidents and ignored by people until they
could no longer stand the smell of rotting flesh; abandoned animals
who, by the time we and our vets get to them, are in such a
state that they are
beyond our or our vets help. The last act of kindness
we can do is to end their suffering. We often lock ourselves
away from the world, but we come back stronger, as the animals
are there behind us, pushing us forward.
The problem of stray animals
is increasing nationally and all animal shelters, such as ours,
are full to capacity. There is a countrywide demand for clinics
such as ours, as we believe that veterinary bills are beyond
some people’s financial reach. If the clinic can help prevent
the breeding of animals, by spaying/neutering and treating
the sick and injured animals, our low cost veterinary clinic,
the only one of its kind in Bedfordshire, will have fulfilled
its purpose. The Clinic will only continue to operate with
financial help from our supporters.
Donations, legacies and
standing orders are the lifeblood of the shelter. Resident animals
at the shelter can be sponsored for what ever donation can be
afforded, bearing in mind that the sponsored animal chosen,
may have a shorter than normal life, having been previously
neglected or cruelly treated but while at the shelter they are
cuddled, loved and respected.
